bestead

¹ American  

[bih-sted] / bɪˈstɛd /

verb (used with object)

besteaded, besteaded, bestead, besteading

1. to help; assist; serve; avail.

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bestead ² American  

[bih-sted] / bɪˈstɛd /

adjective

1. Archaic. placed or situated, often unfavorably or in difficulty.

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Etymology

Origin of bestead¹

First recorded in 1575–85; be- + stead

Origin of bestead²

1300–50; Middle English bisted, bistad, equivalent to bi be- + sted, variant of stad placed < Old Norse staddr, past participle of stethja to place, derivative of stathr place

Example Sentences

"But aren't you getting on well?" asked their little sister, sorely bestead to make the conversation pleasant to them.

From Trading by Warner, Susan

And then they all three left Sir Kay, for it was he who was so hard bestead, and turned unto Sir Launcelot.

From Stories of King Arthur and His Knights Retold from Malory's "Morte dArthur" by Cutler, U. Waldo

And for he was far and fremd bestead Yslain he should have be.

From Fifteenth Century Prose and Verse by Various

Around you call your merry men all    To whom you’ve given bread; For refuge we to the Kirk will flee    Since we are thus bestead.

From Little Engel a ballad with a series of epigrams from the Persian by Borrow, George Henry

We are hungry and faint, and will only shoot the deer for food, for we are hard bestead and in great danger.”

From Hero-Myths & Legends of the British Race by Ebbutt, M. I. (Maud Isabel)